Renter's Planning Guide (easy-print format)Chateau du Pin is located outside the village of Champtocé sur Loire, 18 km (30-minute drive) west of the city of Angers in the province of Anjou. Angers is approximately 200 miles southwest of Paris (4+ hours by car and 95 minutes by TGV train) or about 60 km (hour drive) east of Nantes. Modern shopping centers, banks, hospitals, car rental agencies, and train station are in Angers. The nearest international commercial airports are located in Nantes and Paris. How to get to Le PinBy Car From Paris (322 kilometers; about 200 miles or 4+ hours by car): Take the Autoroute A-10 to the west. Take A-11 when it divides and head toward Chartres, Le Mans and Nantes. For the past few years Cofiroute, the folks that operates the autoroutes in France, has been building a bypass to the west of Angers. This bypass (with a toll) is now open. If you do not want or need to drive through Angers, take the bypass. About 18 km (15 miles) beyond Angers, take the exit (Sortie 19) marked "Chalonne". After the exit, pay the 1.16€* toll at St. Germain des Pres. Pass straight through the roundabout, onto small paved road (between the large industrial buildings) marked by directional signs for "Jardins du Chateau du Pin". Follow the signs to the chateau. From Nantes (60 kilometers, about 40 miles): Take A-11 towards Angers/Paris. There will be a 7.50€ toll in Ancenis. Take the exit (Sortie 19 marked "Chalonne"). After the exit, pass straight through the roundabout onto a small paved road (between the large industrial buildings) marked by directional signs for "Jardins du Chateau du Pin". Follow the signs to the chateau. An alternative route between Angers and Nantes is D723 (The old N23). It is the main non-toll road that runs between Angers and Nantes, paralleling the Loire. As you approach Champtocé sur Loire you will start to see signs for "Jardins du Chateau du Pin". Le Pin is approximately 3 km from Champtocé. *Toll fees are subject to change. Amounts mentioned were correct in the fall of 2008 By TrainTrain service on the French railway (SNCF) is available to Angers from throughout France. The TGV fast train takes about 90 minutes from the Montparnasse station in Paris to Angers and 2½ hours from Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) Terminal 2F. There are hourly trains from Montparnasse and roughly four trains from CDG per day. TGV service requires reservations that can be procured at the station or on-line at www.tgv.com along with up to date timetables. The website has timetables and reservations from other cities as well. Note: the code for Angers is “Angers St Laud (49)”. There is local train service (Ter service) to Champtocé that runs between Angers and Nantes. There are usually four trains a day in both directions. For an on-line schedule visit: Car RentalsAll the major rental car companies have offices and cars available at the gare (station) in Angers. Note that with the exception of Paris, rental car offices are closed on Sundays in France. If you are planning to arrive by train on Sunday, contact the Resident Manager beforehand to arrange a lift from the station to Le Pin. Alternatively, taxis are always available at the gare in Angers. Fares from the gare to Le Pin are about 60€. Mapping SystemsIf you are using a GPS based navigation system, like TomTom or Onstar, the coordinates of Le Pin are: 47º 25’ 40” N; 000º 50’ 58” W.
The telephone number at the chateau is 02 41 39 97 41. What to expect at Le Pin when you arriveWhen you arrive, you can expect to find the following:
What to do after you arriveGuests at the chateau enjoy many activities in the immediate area and throughout the region. Here are a few ideas that we have enjoyed over the years:
Information on all of these activities and more is available here on our website www.sci-le-pin.com, in the chateau, and at the following websites:
Helpful Hints about Living in France for a week or twoFor those of you with limited experience living in France outside of Paris, this next section might be helpful. Credit CardsMost stores and restaurants will accept US credit cards (Visa, MasterCard), but be aware that European credit cards (BC) are different from US cards in that they have a computer chip imbedded in them that the card readers ‘read’. These BC cards are used exclusively in automated equipment like the Autoroute tollbooths, 24/7 automated gas stations, SNCF automated ticket machines. If there is a cashier available, they usually can process a US style credit or debit card. ATMs process US style credit cards and are at most bank branches and supermarkets. In Champtocé, an ATM is located at the Spar Market just to the right as you enter the store. DrivingDriving is little different from in the US. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit is 90 km/hr on the local roads and 130 km/hr on the Autoroutes. There are many more roundabouts on the local roads. Those in the roundabout have the right-of-way over those entering. The local rural roads and village streets tend to be very narrow by US standards, not much more than a wide car width. Use care when traffic approaches. You often have to pull onto the grassy shoulder to pass oncoming traffic, especially if the vehicle is a large farm tractor! The police use portable and permanent radar machines that take a picture of any offending speeder and send the ticket to the vehicle’s registered owner. The rental car company will send you the bill. The permanent radar machines have warning signs, but are still a major revenue producer for the government. ShoppingLike the US, supermarkets come in small and large ‘big box’ versions. The smaller stores tend to be open from 7 AM to noon and again from 2 PM to 7 PM. The larger stores (Super U’s, HyperMarche’s, etc.) tend to open from 9 AM to 7 PM continuously. Most (but not all) stores are closed on Sundays. Some smaller stores will open Sunday morning but close on Monday morning. Shopping carts and bagsFrench supermarkets rarely provide shopping bags (but will sell you one). They expect you to bring your own and to do your own bagging. Shopping carts are available but you have to ‘rent’ them for a one Euro coin. Insert the coin, do your shopping, and when you return the cart to the cart corral you will get your coin back. Parking TicketsIf you get a parking ticket or similar fine, you can take care of it quickly by going to any Tabac and buying the correct stamp. The larger stamp goes on the main part of the ticket and the small one goes on your receipt. Just pop the main part into the mail at a La Poste with a postage stamp and you will be all set. Optional ServicesThe following services can be arranged either when making your reservation or after you arrive, with the Resident Manager.
Other Useful InformationEmergency Numbers throughout France
Chateau du Pin Numbers
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